"VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP RESTORE POPULAR HIKING AREA" (BLM
California news release, 09/19/2002)
Volunteers are needed to help clean up the Dead Indian Canyon area within the
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument -- this Saturday, Sept.
28, National Public Lands Day.http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/09/nr/84_Monument_NPLD_Cleanup/Conv.htm

"NATIONAL
PUBLIC LANDS DAY: EAGLE PASS NEEDS YOUR HELP!" (BLM California Web
site)
National Public Lands Day event by BLM California's Needles Field Office will
be held Oct. 19, to give area's weather time to cool off for the year.http://www.ca.blm.gov/needles/npld2002.html

Related:"DUNES PLAN PROGRESSING
TO REPLACE LAWSUIT'S INTERIM RESTRICTIONS" (BLM California news release,
09/25/2002)
BLM is working to complete land use plan for Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation
Area, but interim restrictions that closed 46,000 acres to off-road use in November
2000, will remain in effect for opening of the recreation season.http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/09/nr/85_Dunes_Restrictions_Remain/Conv.htm

"LAWMAKERS PUSHING NORTON FOR ANSWERS ON DESERT MANAGEMENT"
(Imperial Valley Press, 09/26/2002)
Congressional representatives send letter to Department of Interior Secretary
Gale Norton, "calling for answers to hotly debated desert management plans,
including the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area Management Plan."http://ivpressonline.com/display/inn_news/news04.txt
(Note: the newspaper's link to this article will change on Friday, 9/27/02.
To find it again, search for the phrase "Bureau of Land Management"
in the newspaper archives at:http://ivpressonline.com/archives/.)

NOT FOR EDUCATORS ONLY:

PLANT
OF THE WEEK - Jepson's onion
A perennial herb standing 10-16 inches (25-40 cm), with single cylindric leaf
more or less the same length as the stem. Inflorescence consists of 20-60 flowers
1/4 to 3/8 inches in length and are white in color with deep pink midveins.
Grows from a bulb, 5/8 to 1 inch in size with a red-brown to gray outer coat.
("Special status plants" are those plants whose survival on BLM-managed
lands is of concern."http://www.ca.blm.gov/folsom/folalje.html

WILDLIFE
TRIVIA QUESTION: How many miles does a gray whale travel each year?"---->Anticipated questions: "What
do whales have to do with BLM-managed lands?" "How many whales can
there be in the desert?" "...or even in Headwaters Forest Reserve?"
Please bear in mind that BLM California also manages the California Coastal
National Monument: http://www.ca.blm.gov/coastal/.

SACRED SITES LEGISLATION

"AMERICAN INDIANS PUSH FOR CALIFORNIA BILL TO PRESERVE SACRED SITES"
(Associated Press, in San Francisco Chronicle, 09/26/2002)
About 30 American Indians start 700-mile run from Sacramento to site of proposed
Glamis, Inc. gold mine on BLM-managed lands in the Imperial Valley. The run
publicizes their call for California Gov. Gray Davis to sign SB1828, which "would
require local governments to notify a tribe of proposed construction within
20 miles of a reservation and protect from development sacred sites that
tribes have used for generations."http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2002/09/26/state0430EDT7796.DTL

Related: "INDIAN RUNNERS STOP
AT PECHANGA ANCIENT OAK" (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 09/25/2002)
Indian runners pressing Gov. Gray Davis to sign bill further protecting their
sacred lands, gather at sacred oak that is in one proposed route for San Diego
Gas & Electric power line. Route would cross BLM-managed land and require
BLM right-of-way permit.http://www.pe.com/localnews/southwest/stories/PE_NEWS_nsrunnin2.a1c9a.html

"POWER LINE LEGISLATION SUBMITTED" (North County Times, 09/20/2002)
San Diego Gas & Electric's Valley Rainbow Interconnect: U.S. Rep. Darryl
Issa's proposed legislation would combine two proposed power lines into one
route to avoid populated areas, and provide right of way through the Cleveland
National Forest. Bill would create an exception to the Forest Service ruling
for the proposed power line or lines. Exact route would be determined by BLM
and U.S. Forest Service. (This also relates to story above, "Indian runners
stop at Pechanga ancient oak.")http://www.nctimes.net:80/news/2002/20020920/54602.html

Related: "ISSA TURNS TO CONGRESS
TO END POWER-LINE FIGHT" (The Press Enterprise, 09/20/2002)
"A two-year war over a San Diego utility's plan to string high-voltage
power lines through the Temecula Valley could end before Congress adjourns in
November. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, said he believes his colleagues will vote
to give San Diego Gas & Electric a power-line route on public land through
the Cleveland National Forest, far to the west of the miles of populated private
property the utility had first targeted."http://www.pe.com/localnews/southwest/stories/PE_NEWS_nslines20.58221.html

CADIZ WATER STORAGE PLAN

"MWD EXECUTIVE URGES PROJECT DELAY" (Riverside Press-Enterprise,
09/26/2002)
"A controversial plan to store water in the S.B. County desert faces an
unexpected hurdle .... The top executive of the Metropolitan Water District,
in a letter Wednesday to board members, said that concerns over the drought,
increased costs and environmental impacts should postpone the Cadiz project
indefinitely."http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_NEWS_nacadiz26.ee2e.html

"CADIZ DELAY URGED" (Los Angeles Times, 09/26/2002)
Proposed underground water supply plan: "The Metropolitan Water District
staff recommended Wednesday that the district's board indefinitely defer the
controversial Cadiz water storage program in the Mojave Desert because environmental
concerns and a drought on the Colorado River have dramatically reduced the chances
it will provide useful quantities of water to Southern California."http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-water26sep26.story

"POT INVASION STUNS PARK OFFICIALS" (Fresno Bee, 09/25/2002)
In the past month, law enforcement officers from BLM and other agencies helped
destroy more than 35,000 marijuana plants -- with a street value of more than
$140 million -- in Sequoia National Park alone. Pot gardens are often guarded
with heavy weapons, and pose a danger to visitors as well as the environment.
Tighter security on Mexico-U.S. border has moved more operations north into
California, authorities say.http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/4540630p-5560042c.html

"MORE THAN DROUGHT HARMS RANGELAND, OFFICIALS SAY" (LA Times,
09/22/2002)
Congress, the public and ranchers blame drought for the bare ground where grasses
and other plants once grew on western rangelands. Some career federal land managers
say it is instead the result of overgrazing, and decades-old policies by federal
land management agencies.http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-grazing22sep22.story

"LIVESTOCK BOOTED TO PROTECT TORTOISE" (Farm Progress, 09/24/2002)
"For the third time, eight public lands livestock grazing permittees must
move their cattle on drought-stricken public lands to protect the threatened
desert tortoise. Under the terms of the California Desert Conservation Area
(CDCA) court order, Interior Secretary Gale Norton and her ...BLM ... must ensure
cattle do not graze on nearly half a million acres of public lands from now
until Nov. 7."http://www.farmprogress.com:80/frmp/articleDetail/1,1494,10227+19,00.html

HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS

"HORSES
HIT HARD BY NILE VIRUS; 5,300 infected, mostly in Midwest -- hundreds killed
" (San Francisco Chronicle, 09/22/2002)
"As the human cost of West Nile virus creeps toward 100 deaths this year,
the mosquito-borne scourge is taking an unprecedented toll on horses, alarming
veterinarians and spreading grief among horse owners throughout America's heartland.
" No cases of West Nile virus among horses or wild birds has been reported
in California, but Los Angeles County woman somehow contracted the disease last
month.http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/09/22/MN192880.DTL

Related: "FACT SHEET - WEST NILE
VIRUS" (BLM national Web site, 09/04/2002)
All wild horses and burros in the Bureau of Land Management's Adopt-a-Horse
or -Burro program are being vaccinated for West Nile virus prior to adoption
.. and more information on the West Nile virus.http://www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov/spotlight/westnile.htm

"THE REAL-LIFE LAND OF FAMOUS MOVIE SCENES" (Los Angeles Times,
09/26/2002)
Look carefully enough, and you'll see the same landmarks in an old James Stewart
movie, and a Tom Mix Western 25 years earlier. Just one example among dozens
of movies shot on lands in the Eastern Sierra managed by BLM California or the
Metropolitan Water District. Volunteers for the upcoming Lone Pine Film Festival
have set up photo markers at dozens of sites among these hills, so visitors
can see scenes from movies alongside the actual sites where they were shot.
(Includes photo gallery of movie scenes vs. actual sites.)http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-surround26sep26004439.story

Related: "THE ALABAMA HILLS"
(BLM California Web pages)
Includes list and map of some of the movies and commercials filmed or photographed
in these public lands managed by BLM California's Bishop Field Office.http://www.ca.blm.gov/bishop/alabamas.html

"BLM ANNOUNCES FALL HIKING SCHEDULE FOR HEADWATERS" (BLM California
news release, 09/21/2002)
BLM park rangers will lead outings into the southern portion of the reserve
on Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 15, or until heavy rains begin. Those
interested must make a reservation for a specific day.http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/09/nr/headwatershikes_fall02/Conv.htm

"BOARD WEIGHS LAND RESTRICTIONS" (Bakersfield Californian,
09/24/2002)
Kern County Board of Supervisors hears 3-1/2 hours of public comment from crowd
of over 100, for and against Sen. Barbara Boxer's proposed wilderness bill that
could affect much BLM California-managed land. Attendees hoped board would send
message to Boxer urging local control over federal designation. Resolution required
unanimous approval that failed by one vote, of supervisor who said both sides
raised valid points. Boxer aide says bill is not likely to get Congressional
hearing this year.http://www.bakersfield.com/local/story/1837856p-1952685c.html

"ROOM FOR ALL ON THE TRAIL" (Los Angeles Times, 09/21/2002)
EDITORIAL: "Forget geopolitical animosities. For real conflict, watch hikers,
equestrians and mountain bikers battle over who has the right to use the nation's
trails and ... roads that crisscross public land. Fortunately, the [BLM], which
oversees 14 million acres in California alone, has just introduced guidelines
that should help bring peace to wild America."http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-mtbike21sep21.story

"BLM SHOWCASES WILD BURROS IN ORLAND" (Red Bluff Daily News,
09/26/2002)
About 15 wild burros will be looking for new homes at BLM public adoption Saturday,
during the third annual "Longears Cele'bray'tion," a show and competition
event for donkey and mule owners.http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/display/inn_news/news52.txt

"BOARD RETURNS GRANT MONEY" (The Sacramento Bee, 09/24/2002)
"Residents and farmers on an Auburn-based conservation panel are sending
a $554,500 state grant back to Sacramento, saying the money would go toward
duplicating existing studies of the American River watershed. The U.S. Forest
Service, federal Bureau of Land Management, California Regional Water Quality
Control Board and El Dorado County Planning Department all wrote letters of
support for the grant."http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/environment/story/4528577p-5548084c.html

WILDLIFE
TRIVIA ANSWER: How many miles does a gray whale travel each year?"
Gray whales travel over 6,000 miles a year, migrating from Baja California to
Alaska. {:-)}<-
Learn more about gray whales in the BLM California wildlife database:https://doi1.ios.doi.gov/blmcawildlife.nsf/siteurl/34909591?OpenDocument
(See note under "Selected Upcoming Events" below about following links
to our secure database server.)

SELECTED UPCOMING EVENTS(Note: the Upcoming Events Web site is now on a more secure server, and
your browser may state that "You are about to view pages over a secure
connection" and ask you to "Trust a Security Certificate" from
the Department of Interior that hosts this site. To view the pages, you must
select "Yes" or "OK" for both questions.)

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